Tomorrow marks the two year anniversary of a day that no one will ever forget, especially those in my Hokie family. When tragedies like the shooting at Virginia Tech occur you never forget where you were when you got the call, the fear you felt as you waited for your friends who were still on campus to return your calls and texts, and the sadness that came in the days that follow after the initial shock of the severity of the tragedy taking place in your own home finally hits you. April 16 will forever be a day where my heart will be heavy, filled with sadness for the pain and sorrow of the loss of 32 fellow Hokies, as well as day filled with hope and gratitude for the great lives that each of them lead and the opportunity that each of us left behind has to live each day of our lives the way they did, to the very fullest.
I ask that any of you who read my blog take time tomorrow to say a prayer for Virginia Tech, for those who were lost and their family and friends, and to everyone in the Hokie Nation. And in honor of the 32 lives we lost so tragically two years ago, hug your family and friends, tell them you love them and appreciate all that they do for you. Thank God for the many blessings in your life and let today be a day that you make a commitment to stop taking for granted the people and things we each love and care about the most in life.
A year ago on the first anniversary of the tragedy I took time to write my own reflection and note to my family and friends. I have cut and paste it below for everyone to read, even if you received the email last year I would encourage you to take a few minutes to read it again and remember how lucky we all are to have our faith, family and friends. Also, take time to click the "Live for 32" and watch the tribute video. Thank you all for the love and support you have given to Timmy and I throughout our lives!
Faith, Family and Friends: A Reflection on the Past Year (4.16.08)
Death is never an easy thing to deal with or understand, no matter what the circumstance. But it is especially hard when it happens tragically and to those who are young, full of life, and seem to have so much left to do with their lives when they are taken from us so suddenly and quickly. Many of you know that tragic death is something I have dealt with several times over the past year, beginning this day a year ago when 32 of my innocent Hokie brothers and sisters lives were taken in the shooting at Virginia Tech. Then in late October, after only being at the University of South Carolina for a few months, I got called out of church on a Sunday morning and told to get to the Greek Village immediately, there had been a beach house fire and there were fatalities but they were not sure how many. That morning seven young lives were taken in the Ocean Isle Beach fire, six of them students at USC and one from Clemson. And just three short weeks ago I got the call that one of my own Chi Omega sisters from Virginia Tech had passed away suddenly, later to find out it was from viral pneumonia. Each of these tragic incidents has forced me to stop, think, and reflect about my own life and the lives of those who have been taken from us. Each time I have meant to journal or reflect on my experience and I have not, and so today, on a day that my heart is both heavy and happy reflecting on the past year I want to take time to write down the questions I have struggled with and the things that have helped me to try to grasp why these tragedies happen not just to me but to everyone, and how I can live to honor those who we have lost.
Death is never an easy thing to deal with or understand, no matter what the circumstance. But it is especially hard when it happens tragically and to those who are young, full of life, and seem to have so much left to do with their lives when they are taken from us so suddenly and quickly. Many of you know that tragic death is something I have dealt with several times over the past year, beginning this day a year ago when 32 of my innocent Hokie brothers and sisters lives were taken in the shooting at Virginia Tech. Then in late October, after only being at the University of South Carolina for a few months, I got called out of church on a Sunday morning and told to get to the Greek Village immediately, there had been a beach house fire and there were fatalities but they were not sure how many. That morning seven young lives were taken in the Ocean Isle Beach fire, six of them students at USC and one from Clemson. And just three short weeks ago I got the call that one of my own Chi Omega sisters from Virginia Tech had passed away suddenly, later to find out it was from viral pneumonia. Each of these tragic incidents has forced me to stop, think, and reflect about my own life and the lives of those who have been taken from us. Each time I have meant to journal or reflect on my experience and I have not, and so today, on a day that my heart is both heavy and happy reflecting on the past year I want to take time to write down the questions I have struggled with and the things that have helped me to try to grasp why these tragedies happen not just to me but to everyone, and how I can live to honor those who we have lost.
I believe that the one thing that connects all the lives who have been lost and what makes it so sad and hard to understand is that they all had faith, family, and friends. They were taken in their prime of life when they were full of love and life, wonder and adventure, and a time when they were discovering who they were and who they wanted to be to the world. They were surrounded by friends and family who shaped their lives and made them into the wonderful people that they were. They were more than a number, more than a name on a website or in a newspaper, more than a picture on the television- they were sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, students, teachers, boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives, and best friends. Faith, family and friends made them special, made them who they were and who they continue to be, and I believe that it is faith, family, and friends who help each of us who are left behind to move on and remember to live for all those who were taken from us.
We all struggle with tough questions during times of sorrow and sadness, especially when coping with the loss of loved ones. While we may never know the answers to all the “why” questions- Why them? Why then? Why there? Why not me? Why 32 innocent lives at Virginia Tech? Why did six survive the fire and seven not? Why someone so young, so intelligent, about to graduate and start her dream job? We find comfort in the faith we have in God, knowing that they are all in a better place and while taken from us before we were ready, God gave them all to us as a gift, and we can learn so much from all they did during their time with us. We owe it to each of them to continue to carry on their faith and love of life every day that we are here and able.
We also turn to friends and family during times of tragedy- they are the ones who love us day in and day out, not matter who we are or what we do. Those who we lost were surrounded by friends and family who loved them, challenged them, and helped shape them into the amazing people they were. So often we take for granted the family and friends in our lives who have loved us, challenged us, supported us, and shaped us into the people we are today. It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day of life- school and work and family obligations. I am just a guilty as the next person in not doing a better job of staying in touch on a regular basis with the family and friends in my life who mean the most to me. We owe it to those we lost to make the most of our time on earth with our friends and family, just as they did. Try to remember at the end of the day it’s not really that important what grade you got on your paper, what didn’t get done on your to-do list, or who you had to hire or fire. What is important is the family and friends who have helped you to get to today, and remembering to thank them and let them know what they mean to you, because you never know when you may not have the chance to do so again. So never underestimate the importance of a voicemail, a text message, a posting on your Facebook wall, an email, a text message, an e-card, a card in the mail, or a road trip to visit a friend or family. These are the small things we do that make big differences to those who we love.
As I reflect on the past year I am sad for the many lives lost, but grateful for the opportunity to reevaluate my own life and priorities. I am grateful for the reminder they each left of how precious life is and how we must all live it to the fullest, everyday, just as they did, and love and appreciate our family and friends, just as they did. I am grateful that God gave them each to us, even if it was for just a short time- to remind us all of what life is really about- our faith, family, and friends. It is our faith, family, and friends that help us get through each day, especially the tough ones. It is our faith, family, and friends that we wake up for everyday and who remind us to make the most of that day. It is our faith, family, and friends that we must make our top priorities, for when we don’t we lose focus on what matters most in life. It is our faith, family, and friends we must remember to appreciate. For when our time is done, it is our faith, family, and friends that we will be remembered for- just like we remember today those who have been taken from us, for their faith, family, and friends.
I love you Rachel.
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